Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

One of the fundamental rights in the Constitution, as the Deputy said, is the right to a primary education. It is a good right that is in the Constitution. The National Council for Special Education, NCSE, and the Department have an obligation to fulfil that right in terms of securing a place for the child. We have made significant progress on this in the last two years but wherever there is a need, provision should be made. I empathise with the anxiety many parents feel when their child cannot get a school place. I do not find that acceptable. There needs to be proper planning in advance to make sure that where shortages are identified, that provision is made. As the Ceann Comhairle said, there is a widespread network of SENOs and so on but new classes and places need to be delivered quickly in any area where there is an increase in numbers requiring special education provision. We then need to make sure we can support the schools. There has been fairly significant expansion, to be fair. I am not aware of the specifics of the case but perhaps the Deputy will send them on.

See this speech in context